Disney Marathons and Me
Running inside the Magic - Disney Marathons
by Sari PalmeriWhen I first started running I knew I had to do a race at the Walt Disney World Resort once I was able to run enough. I signed up for my first
runDisney race, Wine & Dine, in November 2013 - the timing was perfect because my family had plans to go to Walt Disney World and then on a three-night Disney Cruise Line cruise.I signed up and was training … and then I hurt my knee and I couldn’t run the race. I was beyond disappointed, but was told that if I didn’t run it should heal on its own and I wouldn’t need knee surgery; if I did run, I mostly likely would. My family still took the trips we had planned and we had an amazing vacation at both places.My husband saw how upset I was when we were in the parks and everyone was walking around with their medals. I would chat with people on lines to ask them how the race was, which events they ran and all sorts of questions. They probably thought I was crazy! On that trip he said “just sign up for another one” and that was shocking because he didn’t think I should try and run a half marathon.I signed up for the Tower of Terror 10-Miler for October 2014. I was going without my family, but meeting my cousin and her daughter. I was doing my training and everything was going great … and then I hurt my foot. Maybe my husband is onto something, I thought, and I really should give up running! Well, that wasn’t going to happen!The time came for me to fly to Florida, participate in my first runDisney event, see my cousin and her daughter and run 10 miles for the first time. It wasn’t pretty, but we did it! We had such an amazing weekend being
together, and the race was a blast.It wasn’t just my first runDisney race - it was also my first night race, and I wasn’t so sure how that would be. I absolutely LOVED it, and if I had the choice I would only do night races now.I’ve done a lot of local smaller races (mostly 5K and one 10K). RunDisney knows what they are doing. It is extremely organized, the race expo was a blast (I went three times), the water stations are done right, the live music, the costumes people wear and the characters really made it a race I will never forget.On March 24, 2015, I signed up for my second runDisney race. I will be going to California and running the Avengers Half Marathon. I am way beyond excited! California, Disneyland and another runDisney event!If you have ever wanted to participate in a runDisney event, they have 5K, 10K, half marathons, marathons, kids races and challenges, which are races that include the 10K and half marathon and the 5K, 10K and half marathon. If you participate in a challenge you get extra medals and the runDisney
medals are always AWESOME! If you participate in a half marathon in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World in the same calendar year you get a special medal called a coast2coast. Now that’s fun!Are you interested in running in Disney? If so, contact me at sari@wishesfamilytravel.com and I can help you with your resort reservation, dining reservations, FastPasses and all the aspects of planning your magical race and vacation. Follow me on Facebook for the latest promotions offered by Disney Parks and more!